He may be one of the most sought-after television executives around at the moment, connected to most of the top jobs currently vacant in broadcasting (and there are quite a few), but the ITV director of television, channels and online, Peter Fincham, preferred to keep his own counsel about any potential moves at a screening of new drama Collision today. Fincham refused to answer questions as to whether he was interested in either the ITV or Channel 4 chief executive or chairman roles, and declined to say how the upheaval at ITV was affecting the broadcaster. However, he was a little more animated on the scheduling clash between Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor, claiming the BBC was "more concerned about ratings than ITV." He said the BBC was more competitive because it "spends without seeking a return on investment", and that ratings were one of the ways it could measure success, while he said ITV's focus was more on its return on investment. He also said he would not be moving the singing reality show. It looks like fans of both will have to put up with a long hard winter.

Art imitating life?

Introducing Collision, about the aftermath of a pile up on the A12, Fincham said the scenario was close to his heart, seeing as he has a second home at the end of the road. "I have pondered those thoughts myself," he said. The drama will be first to be stripped across a week on ITV1 in the 9pm slot early next month.